Prior to your first visit, be sure to review the patients forms.
Before treatment begins
Following your initial consultation visit with Dr. Johe, a comprehensive records visit will be scheduled. Orthodontic records consist of photographs, limited extra-oral radiographs, and a digital scan of your teeth. These records will need to be thoroughly evaluated so Dr. Johe can formulate a definitive treatment plan.
Dr. Johe will discuss specific details of your or your child’s treatment plan during the final consultation visit. Dr. Johe and our staff will be happy to answer any questions about the proposed treatment. Following this consultation visit, an appliance placement visit will be scheduled. The length of this visit can vary depending on the treatment provided.
Orthodontic visits
After a formulating the treatment plan, Dr. Johe will discuss specific details of your or your child’s treatment plan during the final consultation visit. Dr. Johe and our staff will be happy to answer any questions about the proposed treatment. Following this consultation visit, an appliance placement visit will be scheduled. The length of this visit can vary depending on the treatment provided.
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For the remainder of treatment, you and/or your child are typically seen once a month for orthodontic adjustment visits to efficiently move your teeth until your or your child's teeth are perfect! Should you have questions regarding scheduling or treatment, please do not hesitate to ask us at any time!
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Initial consultation visit: 15-30 minutes depending on case difficulty
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Records visit: 45 minutes
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Final consultation visit: 30-45 minutes depending on case difficulty
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Appliance placement visit: time varies
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Monthly treatment visits: 15-30 minutes
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FIRST ORTHO VISIT
At CreatingSmiles, Dr. J formulates a definitive treatment plan that efficiently moves your teeth until they are perfect!
BRACE
YOURSELF
WELCOME
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BRACE YOURSELF
TREATMENT
There are several types of orthodontic treatment available based on the patient's age and existing orthodontic problems. Here are some of the common orthodontic treatment categories and examples of treatment provided by Dr. Johe.
CROSSBITE before & after
EXPANDER TREATMENT before & after
INTERCEPTIVE TREATMENT before & after
Ages 6 to 10
Children at this age may exhibit jaw growth, habit, and crowding problems that would be much more difficult to address at a later age. Some examples of problems best addressed at a younger age:
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Crowding - overlap and rotation of the front permanent teeth
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Underbite - the upper teeth being behind the lower teeth
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Overbite - The upper teeth sticking out (increasing the danger of breaking these teeth)
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Crossbite - The upper dental arch is too narrow to fit together properly with the bottom arch
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Open bite - space between the top and bottom teeth, difficulty biting into foods
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Habits - thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip wedging
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Tooth eruption problems caused by missing or extra teeth
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Treatment at this age typically involves wearing fixed or removable appliances such as expanders, habit appliances, retainers, and extra oral appliances, and is termed interceptive treatment. Treatment may also involve wearing braces for up to one year duration. Retainers are typically required following treatment. Although patients typically require further orthodontic treatment at a later time, the final result can be greatly enhanced and treatment simplified by treating children at this age.
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Ages 11 to 17
Children at this age may exhibit any of the malocclusion problems listed above and in addition may exhibit:
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Tooth impaction - improper tooth eruption of canines / premolars.
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Posterior crowding - overlap and rotation of the back and front teeth.
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Spacing - some spacing in the front teeth is normal up to age 12. Spacing beyond this time period may indicate a need for orthodontic treatment.
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Treatment at this age typically involves wearing braces anywhere from 18 months to 30 months and is termed Comprehensive treatment. In some cases, treatment may also involve wearing removable appliances. In rare cases, surgical intervention may be necessary. Retainers are always required following treatment
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Ages 18 to 100
Adults can exhibit a wide variety of malocclusion problems, including any of the previously mentioned conditions. Some other typical examples:
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Lower incisor crowding - This typically occurs in 20+ year old patients who did or did not have prior orthodontic treatment
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Rotation / Crowding of anterior teeth - This typically occurs in 20+ year old patients exhibiting slow methodical crowding of front teeth over long time periods.
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Treatment at this age typically involves wearing braces or retainers anywhere from 6 months to 30 months. In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary. Retainers are always required following treatment.
What is orthodontics?
Orthodontists are concerned with the study and treatment of improper bites, termed malocclusion, which may be a result of crooked teeth and/or disproportionate jaw relationships. Crooked teeth can result from genetic predisposition, poor oral habits, or just plain bad luck.
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Who is an orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a dental specialist who has received two to three years of additional training and experience, beyond the training of a general dentist, through an accredited post-graduate program. Your orthodontist focuses specifically on straightening teeth, correcting misaligned jaw structure, and improving the look and function of your smile.
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What's the best age to visit an orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children first visit an orthodontist around the age of seven or earlier if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist, or physician. However, orthodontic treatment is not exclusive to children and teens. Whether you're considering treatment for yourself or for a child, any time is a good time to visit an orthodontist. At your initial consultation visit, Dr. Johe will inform you of any treatment necessary and how long this treatment will take.
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What are braces?
Braces are used by your orthodontist to help you improve the look and feel of your smile. The amount of time spent in braces will vary depending on the individual patient, because every smile responds differently to treatment. Treatment times can take anywhere between 6 and 30 months, with the average treatment being 24 months.
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Will I need to wear a retainer?
Retention, or the tendency for teeth to stay straight following cessation of orthodontic treatment, is greatly affected by how litigiously retainers are worn after you or your child completes active orthodontic treatment. Dr. Johe recommends long term wear of retainers typically extending years after treatment is complete. Should retainers be lost or broken, new retainers will need to be fabricated at an additional cost.
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If your question wasn't answered, don't be afraid to give us a call!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ORTHODONTIC
FEES
For more information, call us at 973-325-3000.
Our office believes in stating complete and honest fees before any treatment begins. There are no hidden orthodontic fees. Any fee quoted will include all necessary orthodontic appliances required, including expanders and retainers to be worn during and after treatment is complete. Interceptive orthodontic treatment involves a separate fee from comprehensive orthodontic treatment. Typically the fee quoted will include a records fee, due at the time Dr. Johe takes records (pictures, digital scan, X-rays), an initial starting fee, and a monthly fee to be paid for a stated period ranging from 9 to 36 months. At the time the appliances are removed, any balance remaining is due in full. Any insurance payments are applied toward this fee. Please be aware that you are responsible for the complete fee should your insurance company decline coverage or your coverage change. If you have any questions about our fees, please feel free to consult with our front desk staff. We are always willing to work with you on a payment schedule that suits your needs.
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Examples of items NOT included in orthodontic fees:
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Extraction of teeth
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Restorative dental treatment (fillings, veneers, crowns)
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Regular dental cleanings (3-6 month interval recommended)
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Remake fees for broken / lost appliances
Many of these items are not performed by Dr. Johe and will therefore incur a fee with another dentist or laboratory.
No Insurance? No problem!
Does your employer not offer dental insurance or not offer such insurance at a reasonable cost? Contact our office for information on our Dental Discount Plan offering 100% coverage for routine and periodic procedures, including a discount on Orthodontic treatment. Get professional care by dental specialists at a reasonable cost!